Tri-lead connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector for terminating tri-lead cable with terminals enabling electrical connection with further electrical terminals comprising: a housing of rigid insulative material having a mating face and an oppositely directed rear surface with a pair of profiled terminal passages extending between said face and said surface; a signal terminal having a front mating portion profiled to make locking engagement with an associate pin terminal and a signal conductor engaging rear portion extending from said rear surface normal to the axis of said front mating portion; a ground terminal having a forward portion received in the other of said terminal passages and having a front mating portion profiled to engage a respective grounding bar and a ground conductor engaging rear portion extending from said rear surface normal to the axis of said front mating portion and having at least two spaced ground conductor engaging portions thereon; and a pair of covers securable together which secure the signal and ground terminals therein, each cover having a central signal conductor channel and a pair of profiled ground conductor channels to each side of said signal conductor channel, each said channel having an L-shaped terminal receiving passage a portion of which extends normal to and intersects the axis of a respective channel whereby leads of a cable will be profiled by said channels and terminated by said terminals; said covers being axially movable relative to said housing to cause relative movement of said terminals within said housing to effect unlocking of said signal terminal.

Claim 3

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises: means to gang a number of connectors together for unit operation.

Claim 4

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said mating portion of said signal terminal comprises: a pair of parallel spaced side walls extending normal to marginal portions of a central web, each said sidewall having at least one free edge, a cantilever beam formed by said web between said sidewalls at the mating end of said terminal, a spring member secured to free edges of said side walls with one end of said spring member depending between said walls, and an opening formed in the end of said spring member lying between the walls whereby a mating pin terminal is received through said opening with normal force applied thereto by said cantilever beam.

Claim 5

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said signal conductor engaging rear portion of said signal terminal comprises: a plate portion defining an insulation piercing, conductor engaging slot.

Claim 6

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said ground terminal has a front mating portion comprising: a pair of parallel spaced side walls extending normal to marginal edges of a base wall, forward directed portions of each sidewall forming cantilever beams approaching each other toward their free ends to grip a planar mating member therebetween.

Claim 7

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said pair of covers further comprise: latching arms, and detents whereby said covers can be secured together.

Claim 8

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein each of said pair of covers has a profiled cable entry providing strain relief cable gripping in the assembled condition.

Claim 9

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein each said cover has wall portions adjacent each said signal conductor channel and ground conductor channel which wall portions are deformable to secure the conductors in the respective channels.

Claim 10

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said conductor engaging rear portion of said signal terminal comprises: at least one arm extending normal to and from a rear portion of a sidewall of said signal terminal, and a pair of ears extending normal to the plane of each said at least one arm defining an insulation piercing, conductor engaging slot therebetween.

Claim 11

An electrical connector according to claim 9 further comprising: a pair of arms folded back-to-back with said ears extending in opposite directions therefrom, whereby a pair of cables can be engaged by a single terminal. PG,16

Claim 12

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said ground conductor engaging rear portion comprises: at least one arm extending normal to and from a rear portion of a sidewall of said ground terminal, and two pairs of ears extending normal to the plane of each said at least one arm, each pair of ears defining conductor engaging slot therebetween.

Claim 13

An electrical connector according to claim 15 further comprising: a pair of arms folded back-to-back with said pairs of ears extending in opposite directions whereby a pair of cables can be engaged by a single terminal.

Claim 14

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said covers are hermaphroditic.

Claim 15

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said ground conductor channel has a diverging portion having a wall portion deformable to secure a respective ground conductor therein.

Claim 16

An electrical connector capable of terminating a tri-lead cable and making electrical interconnection with a panel board having a plurality of rows of terminal pins and ground rails mounted thereon in parallel spaced relation, the connector connecting the signal conductor of said cable to a pin terminal and the ground conductors to a respective ground bar, said connector comprising: a housing of rigid insulative material with a front mating face profiled to receive a pin and a portion of said ground bar therein; a signal conductor terminal mounted in said housing and profiled to make a locking engagement with a pin terminal received therein, said signal terminal having an insulation displacing conductor engaging portion; a ground terminal profiled to make a wiping interconnect with a respective ground bar, said ground terminal having at least two ground conductor engaging portions; and a pair of covers securable together, each profiled to receive a tri-lead cable therein with the signal conductor extending through a central signal channel and the ground conductors being received in respective ground conductor channels wherein application of said covers to said housing brings the signal and ground conductors into engagement with the respective terminals to effect the termination thereof; said covers being axially movable relative to said housing to cause relative movement of said terminals within said housing to effect unlocking of said signal terminal.

Claim 17

An electrical connector capable of terminating a tri-lead cable and making electrical interconnection with a panel board having a plurality of rows of terminal pins and ground rails mounted thereon in parallel spaced relation, the connector connecting the signal conductor of said cable to a pin terminal and the ground conductors to a respective ground bar, said connector comprising: a housing of rigid insulative material with a front mating face profiled to receive a pin and a portion of said ground bar therein; a signal conductor terminal mounted in said housing and profiled to make a locking engagement with a pin terminal received therein, said signal terminal having an insulation displacing conductor engaging portion; a ground terminal profiled to make a wiping interconnect with a respective ground bar, said ground terminal having at least two ground conductor engaging portions; and a pair of covers securable together, each profiled to receive a tri-lead cable therein with the signal conductor extending through a central signal channel and the ground conductors being received in respective ground conductor channels wherein application of said covers to said housing brings the signal and ground conductors into engagement with the respective terminals to effect the termination thereof; said covers being axially movable relative to said housing to cause relative movement of said terminals within said housing to effect unlocking of said signal terminal.

Claim 18

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 15 wherein said covers are hermaphroditic.

Claim 19

An electrical connector for terminating tri-lead cable with terminals enabling electrical connection with further electrical terminals comprising: a housing of rigid insulative material having a mating face and an oppositely directed rear surface with a pair of profiled terminal passages extending between said face and said surface; a signal terminal having a front mating portion profiled to make locking engagement with an associate pin terminal and a signal conductor engaging rear portion extending from said rear surface normal to the axis of said front mating portion; said conductor engaging rear portion being comprised of: (a) at least one arm extending normal to and from a rear portion of a sidewall of said signal terminal, and (b) a pair of ears extending normal to the plane of each said at least one arm defining an insulation piercing, conductor engaging slot therebetween; a ground terminal having a forward portion received in the other of said terminal passages and having a front mating portion profiled to engage a respective grounding bar and a ground conductor engaging rear portion extending from said rear surface normal to the axis of said front mating portion and having at least two spaced ground conductor engaging portions thereon; a pair of arms folded back-to-back with said ears extending in opposite directions therefrom, whereby a pair of cables can be engaged by a single terminal; and a pair of covers securable together, which secure the signal and ground terminals therein, each cover having a central signal conductor channel and a pair of profiled ground conductor channels to each side of said signal conductor channel, each said channel having an L-shaped terminal receiving passage a portion of which passage extends normal to and intersects the axis of a respective channel whereby leads of a cable will be profiled by said channels and terminated by said terminals, said covers being axially movable relative to said housing to cause relative movement of said terminals within said housing to effect unlocking of said signal terminal.

Claim 20

An electrical connector for terminating tri-lead cable with terminals enabling electrical connection with further electrical terminals comprising: a housing of rigid insulative material having a mating face and an oppositely directed rear surface with a pair of profiled terminal passages extending between said face and said surface; a signal terminal having a front mating portion profiled to make locking engagement with an associate pin terminal and a signal conductor engaging rear portion extending from said rear surface normal to the axis of said front mating portion; said conductor engaging rear portion being comprised of: (a) at least one arm extending normal to and from a rear portion of a sidewall of said signal terminal, and (b) a pair of ears extending normal to the plane of each said at least one arm defining an insulation piercing, conductor engaging slot therebetween; a ground terminal having a forward portion received in the other of said terminal passages and having a front mating portion profiled to engage a respective grounding bar and a ground conductor engaging rear portion extending from said rear surface normal to the axis of said front mating portion and having at least two spaced ground conductor engaging portions thereon; a pair of arms folded back-to-back with said ears extending in opposite directions therefrom, whereby a pair of cables can be engaged by a single terminal; and a pair of covers securable together, which secure the signal and ground terminals therein, each cover having a central signal conductor channel and a pair of profiled ground conductor channels to each side of said signal conductor channel, each said channel having an L-shaped terminal receiving passage a portion of which passage extends normal to and intersects the axis of a respective channel whereby leads of a cable will be profiled by said channels and terminated by said terminals, said covers being axially movable relative to said housing to cause relative movement of said terminals within said housing to effect unlocking of said signal terminal.

Claim 21

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 17 wherein said covers are hermaphroditic.

Claim 22

An electrical connector for terminating tri-lead cable with terminals enabling electrical connection with further electrical terminals comprising: a housing of rigid insulative material having a mating face and an oppositely directed rear surface with a pair of profiled terminal passages extending between said face and said surface; a signal terminal having a front mating portion profiled to make locking engagement with an associate pin terminal and a signal conductor engaging rear portion extending from said rear surface normal to the axis of said front mating portion; a ground terminal having a forward portion received in the other of said terminal passages having a front mating portion profiled to engage a respective ground bar and a ground conductor engaging rear portion extending from said rear surface normal to the axis of said front mating portion and having at least two spaced ground conductor engaging portions thereon; said ground conductor engaging rear portion being comprised of: (a) at least one arm extending normal to and from a rear portion of a sidewall of said ground terminal, and (b) two pairs of ears extending normal to the plane of each said at least one arm, each pair of ears defining a conductor engaging slot therebetween; a pair of arms folded back-to-back with said pairs or ears extending in opposite directions whereby a pair of cables can be engaged by a single terminal; and a pair of covers securable together, which secure the signal and ground terminals therein each cover having a central signal conductor channel and a pair of profiled ground conductor channels to each side of said signal conductor channel, each said channel having an L-shaped terminal receiving passage a portion of which extends normal to and intersects the axis of a respective channel whereby leads of a cable will be profiled by said channels and terminated by said terminals, said covers being axially movable relative to said housing to cause relative movement of said terminals within said housing to effect unlocking of said signal terminal.

Claim 23

An electrical connector for terminating tri-lead cable with terminals enabling electrical connection with further electrical terminals comprising: a housing of rigid insulative material having a mating face and an oppositely directed rear surface with a pair of profiled terminal passages extending between said face and said surface; a signal terminal having a front mating portion profiled to make locking engagement with an associate pin terminal and a signal conductor engaging rear portion extending from said rear surface normal to the axis of said front mating portion; a ground terminal having a forward portion received in the other of said terminal passages having a front mating portion profiled to engage a respective ground bar and a ground conductor engaging rear portion extending from said rear surface normal to the axis of said front mating portion and having at least two spaced ground conductor engaging portions thereon; said ground conductor engaging rear portion being comprised of: (a) at least one arm extending normal to and from a rear portion of a sidewall of said ground terminal, and (b) two pairs of ears extending normal to the plane of each said at least one arm, each pair of ears defining a conductor engaging slot therebetween; a pair of arms folded back-to-back with said pairs or ears extending in opposite directions whereby a pair of cables can be engaged by a single terminal; and a pair of covers securable together, which secure the signal and ground terminals therein each cover having a central signal conductor channel and a pair of profiled ground conductor channels to each side of said signal conductor channel, each said channel having an L-shaped terminal receiving passage a portion of which extends normal to and intersects the axis of a respective channel whereby leads of a cable will be profiled by said channels and terminated by said terminals, said covers being axially movable relative to said housing to cause relative movement of said terminals within said housing to effect unlocking of said signal terminal.

Claim 24

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 19 wherein said covers are hermaphroditic.

Claim 25

An electrical connector for terminating signal and ground conductor means of tri-lead cable means for electrically connecting the signal and ground conductor means to a pin terminal and a ground rail respectively of a panelboard, comprising: dielectric housing means having parallel passageway means extending therethrough which communicate with respective opening means at a front end of a housing means into which the pin terminal and the ground rail extend; signal terminal means disposed along one of said passageway means and including contact means in alignment with the said respective opening means for the pin terminal for electrical connection therewith; ground terminal means disposed along the other of said passageway means and including contact member means in alignment with the said respective opening means for the ground rail for electrical connection therewith; terminating means provided by said signal and ground terminal means for respectively terminating the signal and ground conductor means thereto; means in which said terminating means and said signal and ground conductor means terminated thereto are insulatively mounted, said insulative mounting means and said housing means being adapted to allow limited axial movement relative to each other; terminal-securing means on said signal and ground terminal means and said housing means securing said respective terminal means in said housing means and adapted to allow limited axial movement of said respective terminal means with respect to said housing means; latching means on said signal terminal means which latchably engages the pin terminal when electrically connected therewith; and means in said passageway means containing said signal terminal means engageable with said latching means when said housing means is moved axially relative to said terminal means thereby causing said latching means to be unlatched from the pin terminal enabling the connector to be disconnected from the pin terminal and the ground rail.

Claim 26

An electrical connector for terminating signal and ground conductor means of tri-lead cable means for electrically connecting the signal and ground conductor means to a pin terminal and a ground rail respectively of a panelboard, comprising: dielectric housing means having parallel passageway means extending therethrough which communicate with respective opening means at a front end of a housing means into which the pin terminal and the ground rail extend; signal terminal means disposed along one of said passageway means and including contact means in alignment with the said respective opening means for the pin terminal for electrical connection therewith; ground terminal means disposed along the other of said passageway means and including contact member means in alignment with the said respective opening means for the ground rail for electrical connection therewith; terminating means provided by said signal and ground terminal means for respectively terminating the signal and ground conductor means thereto; means in which said terminating means and said signal and ground conductor means terminated thereto are insulatively mounted, said insulative mounting means and said housing means being adapted to allow limited axial movement relative to each other; terminal-securing means on said signal and ground terminal means and said housing means securing said respective terminal means in said housing means and adapted to allow limited axial movement of said respective terminal means with respect to said housing means; latching means on said signal terminal means which latchably engages the pin terminal when electrically connected therewith; and means in said passageway means containing said signal terminal means engageable with said latching means when said housing means is moved axially relative to said terminal means thereby causing said latching means to be unlatched from the pin terminal enabling the connector to be disconnected from the pin terminal and the ground rail.

Claim 27

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 21 wherein said dielectric housing means comprises a housing member and a pair of covers secured together, said pair of covers comprising said insulative mounting means and being axially movable with respect to said housing member.

Claim 28

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 22 wherein said covers are hermaphroditic.